Just Because You Can See Doesn't Mean That You Can be Seen

pedestrian conspicuityFew people leave their homes without paying some attention to how they are dressed. When we use our clothing to say "Look at me!" are we really thinking about how we will appear to other road users when we are pedestrians after dark? The right choice of dress prior to your next walk in the dark could be critical!

CASE LAW - Wong-Lai v Ong

BC Courts Coat of ArmsMrs. Wong-Lai and her husband were crossing Prior Street between Gore and Dunlevy in Vancouver to return to their car. They were struck by a car driven by Mr. Ong. The older couple were not able to cross the street quickly, had chosen to cross where there was not a crosswalk on a wide, busy street at night in a heavy rain.

Q&A - My Fault Friend's Car Impounded

Q&A ImageI was driving my friends car without him knowing that i had no drivers licence. we got pulled over and the car got impounded for 30 days. he has a full time job and cannot go without a car. i on the other hand, am disabled, and cannot work and is willing to do what ever it takes to get his car out of impound so he can go to work. i will go to jail for a month or long because i know i was wrong.

VIEWPOINT - Cyclist / Motorist / Pedestrian Interaction

CyclistI live on the Island Highway close to the downtown area of Campbell River. Over the past decade both as a pedestrian and as a motorist I have nearly been hit by cyclists numerous times as they careen down the sidewalk trying to see how much air they can catch jumping the driveway cuts. Very often they are going faster than the cars on the road.

Work in Progress

Wrong Way SignHey, that machine is driving on the wrong side of the road! Can that utility truck park like that while they fix the overhead wires? These are just two of similar questions that the public often ask. The answer is yes, as long as it is done safely.

CASE LAW - R v Shafer

BC Courts Coat of ArmsIan Shafer used to live in Las Vegas, Nevada and had licensed his car there. He moved to Oak Bay, B.C. but had not obtained a BC driver's license or BC license plates and insurance at the time he was stopped for speeding by police in Victoria. He was issued a traffic ticket for speeding, not having a BC driver's license and operating an uninsured vehicle. He pled guilty to speeding and not guilty to the other two counts.

The Good Samaritan

Crash HelperVirtually every crash scene that I attended during my policing career featured at least one good samaritan. These were people who stopped to help another in a time of need, often at some risk to themselves. This kind of selflessness is encouraged with protection granted by law in British Columbia.

VIDEO - Which Side of the Car do You Exit on?

VideoThis Dutch Hyundai Velostar advertising video (subtitled in English) could really make you think about which side of the vehicle you exit on. In this case, the Hyundai concept is that you cannot exit on the driver's side because there is no rear passenger door there, forcing passengers to exit on the safe side.